How do you define these terms? Discussions

Wolf lookalike

Wolf alike

Wolfdog

Wolf hybrid.

Its easy to see why the public are so confused by these terms, my definitions right or wrong are below, please add yours and lets see if we can all reach agreement on them.


Wolf lookalike - A dog of mixed breeds bred to resemble the wolf but with no wolf content.
Much speculation as to dog having possible wolf content but further back than 5 generations.

Wolf alike - A dog of mixed breeds that not only looks like a wolf but acts like a wolf.
Much speculation as to content, most likely mixed with CSV or Saarloos or has a wolf parent between F1 & F5.

Wolfdog - Separated into content.
High content - Pure wolf parent within 3 generations
Mid content - Pure wolf parent 3 or 4 generations removed
Low content - CSV or Saarloos

Wolf hybrid - Selling point

Nobody want to take a shot at this?

ok.....

wolf lookalike ..... A dog of mixed breeds bred to resemble the wolf but with no wolf content.

wolf alike ..... as above

wolfdog... saarloos and csv

wolf hybrid.....f4 and above.

I think all bar wolfdog are used as marketing phrases.

Thanks Tupac
Can you see the confusion for the public? How can a wolf lookalike and wolf alike be the same thing, in dictionary terms they would not be.
A wolfdog most people in the public would surely view as a dog crossed with a wolf?

Hi Muddi
So what is a wolfdog, is it a dog crossed with a wolf period?

it is one of my bug bears that the csv is called wolfdog for that reason....i would prefer vlcak ;-) ;-)

but imo if people did a little research ,before leaping in feet first all might be a little clearer lol.;-) ;-)

A rose by any other name

Tupac - i see where you are coming from re - wolfdog. What about the wolf lookalike v alike.

Do you not think people would view (lookalike) as looking like a wolf v alike (acting like a wolf) and yet if you do research often NI / Ute are referred to as alike when they are actually lookalike. Do you see what i mean?

I tend to find the first 2 categories are too similar.

The validity of any definition is regarding F content is dependent on your belief that the animal you start with is actually 100% wolf and not misrepresented.

Most experienced wolfdog people would grade a wolfdog by behaviour rather than by F numbers. Of course this is all dependent on what any individual believes or has experience of.

hmmm,i still think they are the same thing.does it say in the breed standard(as such)of the temperament of ute's and n.i's to be wolflike(as it refers to the temperament,in different ways in the saarloos and csv)?????

if not,imo the only conclusion is they are the same thing,as were bred with domestic dog breeds to look wolfy.

Would you prefer the term 'wolfdog' was dropped from your chosen breed?
Also if your dogs are wolfdogs what is a wolf x dog, is hybrid an acceptable term?

I do not think the temperment of Ute and NI is supposed to be wolf like, just that they 'look like' hence not the same as 'alike' which would have one believe they are like them in nature. lol

i dont dislike the term wolfdog,i just dont like the assumption of wolfcross not domestic dog breed... isnt saarloos wolfhound the correct name and also didnt the gsd have the wolf bit dropped off their name :? :?

and the csv is not meant to have a wolfalike temperament either;-)

Can you see how Joe Bloggs is confused by the terms Tupac?

wolf lookalike / wolf-type etc. - dog with GSD in recent ancestry and it`s a bit skinny so let`s up the price.
Wolf hybrid - lets `s take a wonderful wild creature and mate it to a dog so we can make even more money.

hi C&D
what do you feel about saarloos and csv lol ;-) ;-)

That's a fair enough point Claire but not so helpful to people who are buying these dogs or asking questions about them as to me there is a huge difference in looking like one, being like one and actually being one. The terms should be clearer imo.

Just an example - Do you see a wolfdog as a csv or a wolf crossed with dog last week? There is a huge difference between both.

how do you define jo bloggs? i was jo bloggs before i researched:?

In all honesty if someone used the term wolfdog to me I would not have a clue what it was and ask for further clarification - there are wolfdogs advertised all over the internet that are no more wolf than my slippers!

Same with the inuits - so many Husky X GSD advertised as an inuit on the freeads ...

I have nothing against the dogs - but the terms are open to interpretation and mean different things to different people, the alleged wolf lookalike breeds look to me generally either like GSD or like husky - but that may be because I love GSD and husky and choose to see them or just because that's what I am familiar with - for me the name is not good as it appears to advertose the dogs on a physical level only and anyone involved in rescue knows what often happens to the dogs that people choose merely because they like the look of them ...

If someone said wolfdog to me and no clarification I'd go with thinking Czech Wolfdog because it is in their name - and I know them and have had one live with me for a while

Excuse any typos - everything has gone tiny on my screen!